Announcement and Invitation
U.S. Climate Change Science Program: Planning Workshop for Scientists and Stakeholders Sponsored by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, Incorporating USGCRP and CCRI
December 3-5, 2002
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, D.C.

THE WORKSHOP
The United States Climate Change Science Program will hold a comprehensive Workshop on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, from December 3 to 5, 2002 in Washington, DC to receive comments on a discussion draft version of its Strategic Plan for climate change and global change studies. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program incorporating the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) is jointly sponsored by 13 U.S. government agencies. The Workshop will review the USGCRP/CCRI plans with emphasis on the development of short-term (2 - 5 years) products to support climate change policy and resource management decision-making.

BACKGROUND
The U.S. Global Change Research Act of 1990 initiated the USGCRP that continues today as a major sponsor of global change research. In June 2001 President George W. Bush directed the USGCRP agencies to develop a focused Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) with the goal of accelerating the USGCRP research activities in the next 2 to 5 years, to assist in the development of public policy and natural resource management tools related to climate change issues. When finalized, the draft Strategic Plan reviewed during and after the Workshop will provide the principal guidance for the U.S. global change and climate change research programs during the next several years, subject to revisions as appropriate to respond to newly developed information and decision support tools.

PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP
The Workshop responds to the Presidentchange and climate change science programs must be objective, sensitive to uncertainties, and well documented for public debate. The U.S. global change and climate change research programs must consistently meet the highest standards of credibility, transparency, and responsiveness to the scientific community, as well as to all interested user groups, and our international partners. To assure the continued scientific credibility of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, the Workshop will provide a comprehensive review of the discussion draft of the Strategic Plan. The Workshop discussions, supplemented by written comments submitted during a 30-day post-Workshop period, will be reflected in the final Strategic Plan.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
-Members of the scientific community interested in reviewing and commenting on the plans and expected deliverables of the USGCRP/CCRI research program -Members of the climate stakeholder and resource management communities interested in commenting on the planned application of the USGCRP/CCRI scientific, economic, and energy system information to policy and resource management decisions
-Members of the international climate change community interested in reviewing and discussing the updated U.S. research and decision support plans

WORKSHOP TOPICS
The workshop will include a plenary session each day, as well as the following breakouts: Observations, Monitoring, and Data Management Scenario Development and Evaluation Climate Models: Implementation and Application Decision Support Tool Development Atmospheric Composition Carbon Cycle Water Cycle Climate Variability and Change Ecosystem Interactions: Forcing and Feedbacks Human Contributions and Responses to Climate Change Land Use/Land Cover Change International Scientific Collaboration Public Communication of Information and Findings

INVITED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Several senior U.S.Fax: based and international science and user group leaders have been invited to be keynote speakers for the plenary sessions. A partial list of invited keynote speakers includes: Dr. Bruce Alberts, President, NAS Hon. Robert Card, Undersecretary of Energy Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Director, NSF VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Administrator, NOAA Dr. John H. Marburger, Director, OSTP, EOP Prof. G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary General, WMO Hon. Sean ODr. R. K. Pachauri, Chairman, IPCC Hon. Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director,

UNEP WORKSHOP/REVIEWER PROCESS
The Workshop will include daily plenary sessions and several breakout sessions. Each breakout session will begin with a summary presentation of an element of the discussion draft of the Strategic Plan, and will include invited reviewer comments, as well as general attendee comments. Summary records will be prepared for every session.

PUBLICATION OF THE DISCUSSION DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN
The discussion draft of the Strategic Plan will be posted on the web site www.climatescience.gov by November 11, 2002 for scientific and public review. Comments, questions and suggestions are welcomed from both scientific and stakeholder communities during and after the Workshop. Comments can be posted up to a month after the workshop at www.climatescience.gov.

OVERSIGHT BY THE U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
An advisory committee appointed by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will undertake an independent review of the draft Strategic Plan, and will give consideration to the scientific and stakeholder community comments during and after the Workshop. PRODUCT The U.S. Climate Change Science Program will be responsible for preparation of the final version of the Strategic Plan, based on its evaluation of information presented at the Workshop and/or posted on its web site, as well as full review of the recommendations developed by the NAS. The final Strategic Plan will be published in April 2003.

SPONSORING AGENCIES
Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, the Interior, State, and Transportation; Environmental Protection Agency; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; Smithsonian Institution; and U.S. Agency for International Development.

SCHEDULE Tuesday, December 3: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 4: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION AND LOGISTICAL INFORMATION is available at the web site www.climatescience.gov.

QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES AND PRESENTATIONS:
James R. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
and Director, U.S. Climate Change Science Program workshop@climatescience.gov ********************************************

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